TL;DR 🦄
- ⚖️ -(으)ㄹ 법하다 means is likely to / could reasonably / it makes sense that...
- 🧠 It expresses a reasonable possibility based on logic, experience, or the situation.
- 🧩 그럴 법해요. [geu-reol beo-pae-yo] = That sounds likely / That makes sense / That could happen.
🎧 Iru Helper Note — Open 
Korean Helper Widgets and listen to chunks like 그럴 법해요, 비쌀 법해요, 사람이 많을 법해요, and 믿을 법한 이야기. The rhythm is: “reasonable situation → likely/understandable result.” ⚖️
Quick title note
-(으)ㄹ 법하다 does not literally mean “no choice but to.” That meaning is No Choice But: -(으)ㄹ 수밖에 없다.
This lesson teaches -(으)ㄹ 법하다 as likely / reasonable / understandable / plausible.
🌈 The Big Picture
-(으)ㄹ 법하다 is used when something feels reasonable, plausible, or likely.
It says:
“Given the situation, that would make sense.”
Examples:
- 주말이라서 사람이 많을 법해요.
- 그 식당은 유명하니까 비쌀 법해요.
- 그렇게 열심히 했으면 성공할 법해요.
[ju-ma-ri-ra-seo sa-ra-mi ma-neul beo-pae-yo]
It’s the weekend, so there are likely to be many people. 👥
[geu sik-dang-eun yu-myeong-ha-ni-kka bi-ssal beo-pae-yo]
That restaurant is famous, so it could reasonably be expensive. 🍽️
[geu-reo-ke yeol-ssi-mi hae-sseu-myeon seong-gong-hal beo-pae-yo]
If they worked that hard, it makes sense that they would succeed. 📈
This grammar is not as certain as -(으)ㄹ 게 틀림없다 and not as forced as -(으)ㄹ 수밖에 없다. It sits in the middle: “reasonable possibility.”
🎨 The Core “Likely / Reasonable” Family
1. Verb + -(으)ㄹ 법하다
Use this when an action/event is likely or reasonable.
- 오다 → 올 법하다 = likely to come
- 성공하다 → 성공할 법하다 = likely to succeed
- 믿다 → 믿을 법하다 = likely to believe / believable
2. Adjective/descriptive verb + -(으)ㄹ 법하다
Use this when a state or quality seems reasonable.
- 비싸다 → 비쌀 법하다 = likely to be expensive
- 어렵다 → 어려울 법하다 = likely to be difficult
- 많다 → 많을 법하다 = likely to be many/much
3. Noun + 일 법하다
Use this when an identity/category seems plausible.
- 실수 → 실수일 법하다 = it could reasonably be a mistake
- 문제 → 문제일 법하다 = it could be a problem
- 사실 → 사실일 법하다 = it could be true / could be a fact
4. Noun-modifying form: -(으)ㄹ 법한 N
Use this to describe a noun as plausible/reasonable.
- 믿을 법한 이야기 = a believable story
- 일어날 법한 일 = something that could happen
- 먹을 법한 음식 = food that seems edible / worth trying
🛠️ How It Works in Sentences
1. Plausible result
- 그 정도로 연습했으면 잘할 법해요.
[geu jeong-do-ro yeon-seu-pae-sseu-myeon jal-hal beo-pae-yo]
If they practiced that much, it makes sense that they would do well. 🎯
2. Reasonable emotional reaction
- 그런 말을 들으면 화가 날 법해요.
[geu-reon ma-reul deu-reu-myeon hwa-ga nal beo-pae-yo]
If someone hears words like that, it’s understandable that they would get angry. 😤
3. Likely situation
- 퇴근 시간이라 길이 막힐 법해요.
[toe-geun si-ga-ni-ra gi-ri ma-kil beo-pae-yo]
It’s rush hour, so traffic is likely to be jammed. 🚗
4. Believable story
- 처음에는 믿을 법한 이야기였어요.
[cheo-eu-me-neun mi-deul beo-pan i-ya-gi-yeo-sseo-yo]
At first, it was a believable story. 📖
🧩 Formation Rules
Verb/adjective stem ending in a vowel → ㄹ 법하다
- 가다 → 갈 법하다
- 오다 → 올 법하다
- 비싸다 → 비쌀 법하다
- 크다 → 클 법하다
Verb/adjective stem ending in a consonant → 을 법하다
- 먹다 → 먹을 법하다
- 읽다 → 읽을 법하다
- 많다 → 많을 법하다
- 없다 → 없을 법하다
ㄹ-ending stem → keep ㄹ + 법하다
- 살다 → 살 법하다
- 만들다 → 만들 법하다
- 힘들다 → 힘들 법하다
Noun → 일 법하다
- 실수 → 실수일 법하다
- 문제 → 문제일 법하다
- 사실 → 사실일 법하다
Past possibility → -았/었을 법하다
Use this when something in the past seems plausible.
- 잊어버리다 → 잊어버렸을 법하다 = likely forgot / could reasonably have forgotten
- 힘들다 → 힘들었을 법하다 = must have been reasonably hard / it makes sense that it was hard
- 도착하다 → 도착했을 법하다 = likely arrived / could have arrived
🚨 Exception Rule(s)
- ㅂ-irregular adjectives change before -(으)ㄹ:
- 춥다 → 추울 법하다
- 어렵다 → 어려울 법하다
- 덥다 → 더울 법하다
- ㄷ-irregular verbs often change before vowel-starting 을:
- 듣다 → 들을 법하다
- 걷다 → 걸을 법하다
- ㄹ stems do not add 을:
- ✅ 만들 법해요
- ❌ 만들을 법해요
- For nouns, do not forget 일:
- ✅ 실수일 법해요
- ❌ 실수 법해요
Spacing note
Write 법하다 separately from the modifier:
- ✅ 그럴 법해요
- ✅ 비쌀 법해요
- ✅ 믿을 법한 이야기
- ❌ 그럴법해요
📚 Cross-check note
Bound to be: -(으)ㄹ 법하다Strong probability: -(으)ㄹ 게 틀림없다It seems/appears: -(으)ㄹ 듯하다No Choice But: -(으)ㄹ 수밖에 없다
🪞 Synonym & Usage Alert
- -(으)ㄹ 법하다 = likely / reasonable / plausible.
- 그럴 법해요. = That sounds likely / That makes sense.
- -(으)ㄹ 것 같아요 = I think / seems like; very common and neutral.
- 비가 올 것 같아요. = I think it will rain.
- -(으)ㄹ 듯하다 = seems likely / appears about to; softer and more polished.
- 비가 올 듯해요. = It seems likely to rain.
- -(으)ㄹ 게 틀림없다 = must be / surely; stronger certainty.
- 비가 올 게 틀림없어요. = It must be going to rain.
- -(으)ㄹ 수밖에 없다 = no choice but to / inevitably because no alternative exists.
- 갈 수밖에 없어요. = I have no choice but to go.
- -(으)ㄹ 리가 없다 = there is no way / not likely at all.
- 그럴 리가 없어요. = There is no way that is true.
⚠️ Pitfalls to Dodge
- ❌ Translating it as “no choice but to.”
- ❌ 비싸는 법해요 → ✅ 비쌀 법해요.
- ❌ 만들을 법해요 → ✅ 만들 법해요.
- ❌ 실수 법해요 → ✅ 실수일 법해요.
- ⚠️ 법하다 often sounds a little thoughtful, formal, or written. In casual everyday speech, -(으)ㄹ 것 같아요 may sound more natural.
✅ Use -(으)ㄹ 수밖에 없다 for “no choice but to.”
⚖️ Bottom line: -(으)ㄹ 법하다 means something is likely or reasonable enough to make sense.
Try this exercise
Instructions
Complete each sentence with the correct -(으)ㄹ 법하다 form.
1. 그렇다 → ＿＿＿＿.
That sounds likely / that makes sense.
Answer
그럴 법해요.
2. 비싸다 → 유명한 식당이라 ＿＿＿＿.
It is a famous restaurant, so it is likely to be expensive.
Answer
비쌀 법해요.
3. 많다 → 주말이라 사람이 ＿＿＿＿.
It is the weekend, so there are likely to be many people.
Answer
많을 법해요.
4. 힘들다 → 혼자 하면 ＿＿＿＿.
If you do it alone, it is likely to be hard.
Answer
힘들 법해요.
5. 믿다 → ＿＿＿＿ 이야기예요.
It is a believable story.
Answer
믿을 법한.
6. 실수 → 이건 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
실수일 법해요.
7. 잊어버리다 → 너무 바빴으니까 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
잊어버렸을 법해요.
8. ❌ 만들을 법해요 → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
만들 법해요.
9. Choose “no choice but to go”:
① 갈 법해요
② 갈 수밖에 없어요
Answer
② 갈 수밖에 없어요.
10. Choose the best meaning of 그럴 법해요.
Answer
“That sounds likely / that makes sense / that could reasonably happen.”
Vocabulary Box
- 법하다 [beo-pa-da] → to be likely/reasonable/plausible
- 그렇다 [geu-reo-ta] → to be so
- 유명하다 [yu-myeong-ha-da] → to be famous
- 주말 [ju-mal] → weekend
- 혼자 [hon-ja] → alone
- 믿다 [mit-tta] → to believe
- 이야기 [i-ya-gi] → story
- 실수 [sil-su] → mistake
Tip 💡 If the result sounds reasonable, 법하다 may fit.
Want more reps? Keep going into the Practice Hub for likelihood and plausibility training. ⚖️
🎯 Practice Hub — Likely / reasonable: -(으)ㄹ 법하다
Welcome to the plausibility gym. ⚖️ You’ll practice reasonable guesses, believable stories, likely outcomes, past possibilities, and differences from “no choice but to.”
🔊 Audio reminder: Use Korean Helper Widgets whenever you want to hear a sentence aloud.
Exercise 1 — Form Builder 🔧
A. 가다 → ＿＿＿＿
likely to go
Answer
갈 법하다.
B. 오다 → ＿＿＿＿
likely to come
Answer
올 법하다.
C. 먹다 → ＿＿＿＿
likely to eat / edible-looking
Answer
먹을 법하다.
D. 믿다 → ＿＿＿＿
believable
Answer
믿을 법하다.
E. 비싸다 → ＿＿＿＿
likely to be expensive
Answer
비쌀 법하다.
F. 어렵다 → ＿＿＿＿
likely to be difficult
Answer
어려울 법하다.
G. 많다 → ＿＿＿＿
likely to be many
Answer
많을 법하다.
H. 만들다 → ＿＿＿＿
likely to make
Answer
만들 법하다.
I. 실수 → ＿＿＿＿
likely to be a mistake
Answer
실수일 법하다.
J. 문제 → ＿＿＿＿
likely to be a problem
Answer
문제일 법하다.
Form Box
- vowel stem → ㄹ 법하다
- consonant stem → 을 법하다
- ㄹ stem → keep ㄹ: 만들 법하다
- noun → 일 법하다
Tip 💡 This pattern uses the future-looking modifier shape -(으)ㄹ.
Exercise 2 — Reasonable Result Builder 🔎
A. 주말이라 사람이 ＿＿＿＿.
It is the weekend, so there are likely to be many people.
Answer
많을 법해요.
B. 유명한 식당이라 가격이 ＿＿＿＿.
It is a famous restaurant, so the price is likely to be high.
Answer
비쌀 법해요.
C. 그렇게 연습했으면 잘＿＿＿＿.
If they practiced that much, they are likely to do well.
Answer
할 법해요.
D. 설명이 부족하면 헷갈릴 ＿＿＿＿.
If the explanation is insufficient, it makes sense that one would be confused.
Answer
법해요.
E. 밤을 샜으니까 피곤할 ＿＿＿＿.
They stayed up all night, so it makes sense they would be tired.
Answer
법해요.
F. 증거가 많아서 믿을 ＿＿＿＿.
There is a lot of evidence, so it is believable.
Answer
법해요.
G. 그 정도면 성공할 ＿＿＿＿.
At that level, they are likely to succeed.
Answer
법해요.
H. 이야기가 자연스러워서 사실일 ＿＿＿＿.
The story sounds natural, so it could be true.
Answer
법해요.
I. 아직 연락이 없으면 바쁠 ＿＿＿＿.
If there is still no contact, they are likely busy.
Answer
법해요.
J. 그런 말을 들으면 화가 날 ＿＿＿＿.
If someone hears words like that, it is understandable to get angry.
Answer
법해요.
Clue Box
- weekend → many people
- famous restaurant → expensive
- lots of practice → likely to do well
- poor explanation → confusion
- no sleep → tired
Tip 💡 법하다 often sounds like “that would make sense.”
Exercise 3 — Choose 법하다, 수밖에 없다, or 틀림없다 🧭
A. “That sounds likely.”
① 그럴 법해요
② 그럴 수밖에 없어요
Answer
① 그럴 법해요.
B. “I have no choice but to go.”
① 갈 법해요
② 갈 수밖에 없어요
Answer
② 갈 수밖에 없어요.
C. “It must be going to rain; I’m sure.”
① 비가 올 게 틀림없어요
② 비가 올 법해요
Answer
① 비가 올 게 틀림없어요.
D. “It could reasonably rain.”
① 비가 올 법해요
② 비가 와야 해요
Answer
① 비가 올 법해요.
E. “The circumstances leave no alternative.”
① 할 수밖에 없어요
② 할 법해요
Answer
① 할 수밖에 없어요.
F. “This story is believable.”
① 믿을 법한 이야기예요
② 믿을 수밖에 없는 이야기예요
Answer
① is the target: 믿을 법한 이야기예요.
G. “There is no way that is true.”
① 그럴 리가 없어요
② 그럴 법해요
Answer
① 그럴 리가 없어요.
H. “It is understandable that they got angry.”
① 화가 날 법해요
② 화가 날 리가 없어요
Answer
① 화가 날 법해요.
I. “It is bound to be expensive because no other result is possible.”
① 비쌀 수밖에 없어요
② 비쌀 법해요
Answer
① 비쌀 수밖에 없어요.
J. “It is likely to be expensive.”
① 비쌀 법해요
② 비쌀 수밖에 없어요
Answer
① 비쌀 법해요.
Choice Box
- 법하다 → reasonable/likely
- 수밖에 없다 → no other option
- 틀림없다 → very sure / no doubt
- 리가 없다 → no way / impossible-sounding
Tip 💡 “Likely” and “no choice” are not the same.
Exercise 4 — Past Plausibility ⏳
A. 잊어버리다 → 너무 바빴으니까 ＿＿＿＿.
They were so busy, so they likely forgot.
Answer
잊어버렸을 법해요.
B. 도착하다 → 지금쯤 ＿＿＿＿.
By now, they likely arrived.
Answer
도착했을 법해요.
C. 힘들다 → 혼자 했으면 ＿＿＿＿.
If they did it alone, it was likely hard.
Answer
힘들었을 법해요.
D. 보다 → 메시지를 이미 ＿＿＿＿.
They likely already saw the message.
Answer
봤을 법해요.
E. 듣다 → 소식을 벌써 ＿＿＿＿.
They likely already heard the news.
Answer
들었을 법해요.
F. 먹다 → 시간이 늦었으니까 ＿＿＿＿.
It’s late, so they likely ate.
Answer
먹었을 법해요.
G. 실수하다 → 급하게 했으니까 ＿＿＿＿.
They rushed, so they likely made a mistake.
Answer
실수했을 법해요.
H. 닫다 → 이 시간에는 이미 ＿＿＿＿.
At this hour, they likely closed already.
Answer
닫았을 법해요.
I. 춥다 → 산이라서 ＿＿＿＿.
Since it was a mountain, it was likely cold.
Answer
추웠을 법해요.
J. 비싸다 → 위치가 좋아서 ＿＿＿＿.
The location was good, so it was likely expensive.
Answer
비쌌을 법해요.
Past Box
Use -았/었을 법해요 for “likely did / likely was / could reasonably have...”
- 왔을 법해요
- 먹었을 법해요
- 힘들었을 법해요
- 봤을 법해요
Exercise 5 — Mixed Mastery + Pitfall Patrol 🛡️
A. ❌ 비싸는 법해요 → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
비쌀 법해요.
B. ❌ 만들을 법해요 → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
만들 법해요.
C. ❌ 실수 법해요 → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
실수일 법해요.
D. ❌ 그럴법해요 → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
그럴 법해요.
E. 믿을 법한 이야기 means:
Answer
A believable story.
F. 그럴 법해요 means:
Answer
That sounds likely / that makes sense.
G. Choose the “no choice” sentence:
① 갈 법해요
② 갈 수밖에 없어요
Answer
② 갈 수밖에 없어요.
H. Choose the “reasonable possibility” sentence:
① 그럴 법해요
② 그럴 수밖에 없어요
Answer
① 그럴 법해요.
I. Choose the strong certainty sentence:
① 비가 올 법해요
② 비가 올 게 틀림없어요
Answer
② 비가 올 게 틀림없어요.
J. When should you use -(으)ㄹ 법하다?
Answer
Use it when something seems likely, reasonable, believable, or understandable based on the situation.
Final Check
- 오다 → 올 법하다
- 먹다 → 먹을 법하다
- 비싸다 → 비쌀 법하다
- 어렵다 → 어려울 법하다
- 만들다 → 만들 법하다
- 실수 → 실수일 법하다
- 믿을 법한 이야기 = believable story
Tip 💡 “Likely/reasonable” = 법하다. “No choice” = 수밖에 없다.
🎉 You finished the -(으)ㄹ 법하다 workout. Now you can judge what sounds plausible, likely, or understandable: 그럴 법해요, 비쌀 법해요, 믿을 법한 이야기, and 잊어버렸을 법해요. ⚖️✨
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